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Sheriff's Office K-9 Escapes Kennel, Dies On Road

News Channel 8 photo by Indira Levine

Lobo, above, was staying at the Boyette Animal Hospital at 10931 Boyette Road while his handler, Deputy Jason Allen, above, was out of town.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2008

Updated: 02/24/2008 02:08 pm

TAMPA - TAMPA - A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office dog opened a door and climbed fences to escape a private boarding kennel before being hit by a car and killed this morning.

The sheriff's office K9 German shepherd named Lobo was struck by a driver heading north on Interstate 75 just north of the Gibsonton Drive exit about 9:30 a.m.

Lobo was staying at the Boyette Animal Hospital at 10931 Boyette Road while his handler, Deputy Jason Allen, was out of town. The dog traveled about two miles before being hit.

Lobo "outsmarted" barriers designed to keep him in the kennel, said sheriff's Lt. Kyle Cockream. The dog managed to open a door and scale several fences, including one 6 feet tall.

The head of the department canine unit was surprised that Lobo was able to get out, Cockream said.

"Most people would probably tell you that can't be done by a dog," he said.

A driver hit Lobo when the dog darted into the highway, Cockream said.

The driver was highly upset by the accident. He and other motorists stopped to help the dog but Lobo died on the scene.

The investigation is being handled by the sheriff's office traffic homicide unit. By law, Lobo was considered a law enforcement officer.

Investigators also will return to question kennel workers who worked Saturday night to be sure all procedures were followed.

The 3-year-old dog was last seen about 5 a.m. near a CVS store at U.S. Highway 301 and Boyette Road, with a sheriff's office star hanging from his collar.

Members of the department's canine unit went to the kennel to verify the escaped dog belonged to the department. The department then started a large search for the missing dog.

Lobo had been part of the department's canine section for nearly two years and specialized in drug detection.

The dog helped the sheriff's office bust what investigators said was a marijuana smuggling operation bringing pot to Florida from Arizona in a horse trailer. Lobo alerted deputies to the presence of marijuana in a U-haul truck where the marijuana had been moved.

The sheriff's office recovered 900 pounds of marijuana at house north of Plant City on Feb. 17.

Lobo's handler will have the dog cremated tomorrow.

"That's the worst kind of call you can get as a canine handler," Cockream said.

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